Electronic

Electronic health records (EHR) are digital versions of patients' paper charts. They are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.

Overview

An EHR contains the medical and treatment history of the patients in one practice. EHRs have the ability to exchange health information electronically. They can help providers more effectively diagnose patients, reduce medical errors, and provide safer care.

Benefits

EHRs and the ability to exchange health information electronically can help providers to achieve higher quality and safer care for patients while creating tangible enhancements for organizations. EHRs help providers better manage care for patients and provide better health care by:

• Providing accurate, up-to-date, and complete information about patients at the point of care
• Enabling quick access to patient records for more coordinated, efficient care
• Securely sharing electronic information with patients and other clinicians
• Helping providers more effectively diagnose patients, reduce medical errors, and provide safer care
• Improving patient and provider interaction and communication, as well as health care convenience
• Enabling safer, more reliable prescribing
• Promoting legible, complete documentation and accurate, streamlined coding and billing
• Enhancing privacy and security of patient data
• Helping providers improve productivity and work-life balance
• Enabling providers to improve efficiency and meet their business goals
• Reducing costs through decreased paperwork, improved safety, reduced duplication of testing, and improved health.

See also

• Health informatics
• Medical record
• Health information exchange
• Personal health record

External links

• Electronic Health Records at HealthIT.gov

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